Idaho Tenants

Get your security deposit back in Idaho.

A professional demand letter citing Idaho's security deposit statute (Idaho Code § 6-321), the return deadline, and the treble-damages penalty for bad-faith withholding. Ready in minutes.

Generate my letter — $39One-time payment. No subscription.

Deadline

21 days

to return your deposit after move-out

Penalty

up to 3×

discretionary treble under § 6-317, plus costs

Statute

§ 6-321

Idaho Code

What Idaho law actually says.

Under Idaho Code § 6-321, your landlord has 21 days after your tenancy ends to return your security deposit, or up to 30 days if your lease specifies a longer period, along with a written, itemized statement of any deductions.

If the landlord retains your deposit in bad faith, you may recover:

  • Your actual damages, plus up to three times that amount at the court’s discretion under § 6-317
  • Court costs and disbursements under § 6-320(c)

So a $1,500 deposit wrongfully withheld can support a court judgment of up to $4,500. Most landlords settle quickly once they realize you know the law.

Good to know: The treble remedy is discretionary — the court “may” award up to 3× under § 6-317; it is not automatic. Idaho sets no statewide deposit cap; a landlord using a management agent must hold the deposit in a separate insured account.

What a Idaho demand letter looks like.

Every letter follows the structure courts expect — your facts, the statute, a specific demand, and a deadline. Here's the skeleton; the generator fills the brackets from your answers and computes Idaho's deadlines under § 6-321.

[Date]

[Your name]
[Your forwarding address]

[Landlord's name and address]

RE: Security Deposit — Formal Demand for Return of $[Amount]

I am the former tenant of [rental property address]. You accepted a security deposit of $[Amount], and my tenancy ended on [move-out date]. My forwarding address for return of the deposit is stated above, which I am providing to you in writing.

Under § 6-321, you were required to [return the deposit or provide an itemized statement] within [the statutory period]. That period has passed, and you have done neither. [The specific consequence Idaho law attaches, cited by section.]

I demand return of $[Amount] no later than [deadline]. If I do not receive it, I am prepared to pursue all remedies available under [statute], including filing suit in the appropriate court.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

Common questions about Idaho deposits.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Idaho?

21 days after you move out.

What is the penalty if a Idaho landlord wrongfully withholds a deposit?

A tenant suing over a wrongfully retained deposit proceeds under § 6-320, which allows recovery of damages and costs; under § 6-317 the court may, in its discretion, award up to three times the actual damages.

Which law covers security deposits in Idaho?

Idaho Code § 6-321 and Idaho Code § 6-320. We verify these against the statute text itself; the date we last checked is shown on this page.

Sources & verification

The Idaho rules on this page were verified against the statute text itself:

  • Idaho Code § 6-321
  • Idaho Code § 6-320

Last verified against primary sources on .

How we verify this →

Laws change. If you spot something out of date, tell us at support@gettenantshield.com and we'll correct it.

What you get for $39.

A professional demand letter

Properly formatted, addressed to your landlord by name, citing the exact Idaho statutes that apply to your situation.

Specific statute citations

Idaho Code § 6-321, § 6-320, and any others triggered by your circumstances — not generic legalese.

Calculated penalty math

The letter computes the exact dollar amount you're entitled to demand based on your deposit and the deductions at issue.

Ready-to-send PDF

Download instantly, print, sign, and send via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt.

Ready to get your deposit back?

Most Idaho landlords return the deposit within days of receiving a properly drafted demand letter.

Generate my letter — $39